Places to Visit
There are so many wonderful places to discover in Northumberland, we recommend you plan your holiday to maximise the time you have available. There are lots of tourist information brochures in each of our properties, so you can browse at your leisure on arrival to plan your days out. Northumberland's tourist information centres are a fantastic source of a wider range of visitor attraction information and specifics such as opening times for the many attractions.
Walking
The county of Northumberland is one of the best in the UK for great walks, with the diversity of terrain from the hills in the National Park over to the beautiful deserted beaches that stretch for miles and miles. The views in all areas - inland and coastal - are dramatic and atmospheric, you can imagine life as it was hundreds of years ago as there is so little modern development to spoil the views.
There are so many fabulous walks to enjoy, there are too many to list here, but most of our cottages have guide books for you to plan your walks once you arrive. If you wanted to start planning beforehand however, an excellent website outlining walks close to our cottages is Northumberland Walks. Click on the link and take a browse for ideas.
In and around Warkworth
The village has numerous good quality gift shops and galleries, including the well-known Dial and Fenwick art galleries, the fine and fascinating Norman St. Lawrence Church, cosy coffee shops and tearooms, good restaurants and hotels. Explore the interesting walks within the parish, including the ancient Mill Walk along the river bank, taking you to the mysterious Hermitage, carved from the rockface (which you can only access by rowing boat), the ancient fortified Norman bridge and of course, our vast and beautiful Warkworth beach. A visit to Warkworth Castle is essential when you stay in Warkworth. It's dominance to the village cannot be escaped, it is a beautiful ruin, well worth a look around (the audio tour is excellent) to get a feel for the history of the village and the county of Northumberland (see below).
From Warkworth, there are walks along the River Coquet estuary to Amble and further south past Amble harbour and The Little Shore following the coastline to Hauxley with its wonderful views of Coquet Island. There are nature reserves at Hauxley and Druridge Bay and wide open spaces on the Braid adjacent to the marina and at Druridge Country Park with its lake, visitor centre, picnic areas and access to quiet, yet vast, sandy beaches.
Warkworth has an excellent Amateur Drama Group, which presents plays and pantomines throughout the year in the Memorial Hall in Castle Street. Tickets for upcoming performances are sold in the Village Store.
Warkworth also has its own golf club for which daily green fees are available to visitors. It's known as The Links, as its course covers the rear of the dunes to Warkworth beach.
There is a leisure club at Shilbottle with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, gym and health treatments, along with horse riding, as well as the excellent "Granary" leisure centre in Amble, with a pool, gym, etc.
Warkworth Castle
With the historic ruins of the 14th Century Warkworth Castle nestling at its heart, Warkworth is a fine setting for the annual pageant, and films such as 'Elizabeth' and Shakespeare's "Henry IV". In fact, Shakespeare set scenes from "Henry IV" Part One in Warkworth Castle.
The Castle, as depicted on our website banner, is well worth a visit, as it is interesting to adults and children alike, and of great importance historically. See our page About Warkworth for more information on the castle.
In November 2007, Warkworth Castle was chosen to host a special light show, touring the region, which saw the castle illuminated beautifully with brightly coloured images and designs. It was quite a show and interesting to see technology and history coming together to create a truly atmospheric spectacle.
Alnmouth
Alnmouth in an interesting little village with a great beach and wonderful views.
The view of Alnmouth from the approach road from Warkworth is very memorable and in fact ranks as one of the most photographed scenes of Northumbria, with its row of pretty pastel coloured houses facing onto the estuary.
Alnmouth has a small selection of shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes and a fabulous beach, with the estuary running through it, flowing into the sea. It nestles by the mouth of the River Aln with beaches, golf courses, river and coastal walks.
Definitely worth a visit.
Alnwick
Voted the best place to live in England, Alnwick has developed outside the walls of Alnwick Castle. There are tea rooms, pubs, museums, delicatessens, gardens, shops and much more, providing points of interest along the town walks with medieval links to the castle dotted along the way.
The newly developed Alnwick Castle Garden beckons gardeners and non-gardeners from around the globe and is home to the largest treehouse in Europe, containing tree walks and a very interesting restaurant/cafe. Alnwick Gardens is open 7 days a week from May to October, but in the winter months of November to April it is open for 4 hours per day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - although entry is free at these times, which makes it very popular.
Alnwick Castle was recently voted the top must-see sight in the UK, over and above attractions such as Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London and the Eden Project in Cornwall. It was described as "glorious" with "excellent facilities" and is the home of the Duke of Northumberland and backdrop to many films, including Harry Potter, is open to visitors.Alnwick Castle and Gardens hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year and live music is often played in the treehouse cafe. See our main Alnwick page here for more information.
Amble
Amble is situated just 1 mile south of Warkworth and is a bustling port with several shops located in one main street and an interesting quayside, where fresh fish is brought in daily by the many fishing boats operating from Amble harbour. You can buy fresh fish and other seafoods directly from the quay and there are several really good fish and chips shops - both in the quay area and further into the town.
You can catch a boat to take you around Coquet Island, which is a RSPB reserve and is located just off the coast at Amble, from here. Boats leave at approximately 1:30pm and 3:30pm on most afternoons. Much wildlife can be seen on Coquet Island, including seals, puffins, eider ducks, roseate terns and guillemots. There's a stunning view of Warkworth from the quayside or from the Braid in Amble, which shouldn't be missed.
Amble Tourist Inforation Office is located at the end of the high street, near to the marina and, as well as providing a wealth of information on the area, has an interesting "Birds Eye View" of Coquet Island provided via a solar powered camera on the island. This beams live footage of the puffins, terns, eider-ducks and one of Europe's rarest seabirds, the roseate term, which all regularly nest on the island. At times of the year when the birds have migrated, a fascinating DVD of images is shown in the tourist office.
Amble hosts an interesting Sunday market every Sunday morning, where everything from tools and telephones to seafood and sandals are sold. There's also a very good, newly built, swimming pool and leisure club in Amble and you can hire cycles (and all the associated safety equipment) from here, from 'Pedal Power'. In fact they will deliver your hired cycles to your cottage and pick them up again later AND they offer all our guests a discount on the hire charge - just mention us when you book your cycle hire.
Bamburgh
A visit to Bamburgh is a must on any holiday to Northumberland. Fabulous Bamburgh Castle is vast and dramatically perched between the sea and the pretty village. There is an interesting museum in the castle detailing the life and works of Lord Armstrong, a great local industrialist, who used to own the castle and was responsible for building Cragside House in Rothbury.
There are privately rented apartments (not for holiday use) in the castle, so it's very much a living monument. There are a few shops and tea rooms in the village and the beach, stretching for miles, is unmissable for it's beauty and scale.
Holy Island
No visit to Northumberland would be complete without a trip to Holy Island. The drive across the causeway at low tide is a wonderful Lindisfarne - by kind permission of Mike and Kelly Holmesexperience and the views dramatic. Just be careful to observe the tide times and take no chances on the return journey, as every few weeks tourists get stranded and have to be rescued by lifeboat after thinking the causeway looks ok to cross but subsequently getting caught out half way across due to the speed of the incoming tide. A tide timetable can be found in each of our properties and can also be accessed here.
Hadrian's Wall
Arguably the most important Roman monument in the whole of Britain. It is the best known frontier in the entire Roman Empire and stands as a reminder of past glories of one of the world's greatest civilisations. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1987, Hadrian's Wall ranks alongside the Taj Mahal and other treasures of the great wonders of the world. Spanning nearly 2,000 years of history, dramatic and wild landscapes, towns and cities, a visit to Hadrian's Wall is a must for anyone visiting the North of England.
Forts, museums and events bring Roman history to life, walks lead you through spectacular countryside. Time spent exploring this unique Roman heritage in its ever changing setting will leave you with an unparalleled sense of awe and wonder. www.hadrians-wall.org . Click here to plan your invasion.
The Garden Station is a delightful restored railway station, situated in a lovely woodland garden setting at Langley on Tyne, not far from Haydon Bridge and Hadrian's Wall. The Garden Station, Langley on Tyne, Nr. Hexham, Tyne ValleyThe Garden Station, Langley on Tyne, Nr. Hexham, Tyne Valley Visitors can enjoy woodland walks, an art exhibition and a cosy cafe, as well as an opportunity to take part in regular arts, crafts and food workshops.
Hexham
Hexham is a proud, traditional, rural Northern town which has just won its own award as Britain's favourite market town. It's award is justified, given the magnificent 7th-century abbey, handsome buildings and wonderful park worthy of a large city. Quirky shops worth a visit include one for violin players who come from all over the world to have their instruments repaired and there are at least two antiquarian booksellers. A good place for children to explore - as they may be allergic to browsing the shops - is the restored Old Gaol, England's first purpose-built prison, its 14th-century stones now viewable from a 21st century glass lift.
The Exchange, in the central Queens Hall civic building, is the kind of buzzy neighbourhood cafe every town deserves, and serves much better food than might be expected, strong on local produce including local ice-cream. Much of the considerable bounty of Northumberland can be bought in Hexham's twice-monthly farmers' market, or at the weekly Tuesday market. Hexham is well worth a visit and is close to Hadrian's Wall, so unless you wanted to spend a whole day exploring Hadrian's Wall, it should be possible to combine both locations in one day.
Corbridge
Corbridge is close to Hexham and is a very pretty place with the Tyne river flowing through it and worth a visit if you are in the area. There are some lovely shops there and the Angel Inn, a large pub in the centre of Corbridge, serves particularly good food with a lovely, friendly atmosphere. Brocksbushes farm shop, on the outskirts of Corbridge is also worth a visit. It has won several awards and is particularly strong on Northumberland cheeses. They also have their own asparagus and berry fields.
Kielder Water
Kielder Water and Forest Park is well worth a day trip. It features the largest man-made lake in northern Europe and the whole area has the least light and air pollution in all England. It provides a healthy environment for a whole host of outdoor activities and when the sun sets you can star-gaze at the Kielder Observatory which has recently opened.
Durham City
Originally born in Northumberland, I spent many years living here and it's an unmissable city. Absolutely packed with history and atmosphere, not only are the quaint cobbled streets and higgledy-piggledy houses and shops reminiscent of York and Chester, but the truly magnificent Norman cathedral is a sight to behold. Durham Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - which puts it on a par with the Pyramids in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India.
You can take the train from Alnmouth station down to Durham for the day or drive (if you have to) the one and a half hour journey and use the easy 'park and ride' service into the city. The city centre is extremely compact, with everything within easy walking distance. There are lots of great places to eat, shop and explore. The cathedral, of course, must not be missed, the beauty and majesty of such a fabulous building will take your breath away. It was the setting for many scenes in the Harry Potter movies, so children will be able to easily spot familiar scenes. Durham Castle - right next to the cathedral - is also impressive.
There are many other attractions in the city centre, call into the tourist information centre in the market place for more ideas, but another one not to be missed is Crook Hall and Gardens, just a short walk from the centre and well worth it for the lovely old hall and pretty gardens - and they also have lots of things organised for children all throughout the year.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The city of Newcastle upon Tyne is approximately 25 miles South and accessible by car, bus or train. As the East Coast Mainline runs through Alnmouth station, just a mile north of Warkworth, we can recommend leaving your car there and taking the train for a much more relaxing day out. The Eldon Square shopping centre is in the heart of Newcastle with its wealth of shops, restaurants, museums, theatres and places to visit.
The Quayside is a place not to be missed on a visit to Newcastle City. Rejuvinated over recent years, the cityscape of the area has been captured on film so many times, it has become iconic. Places to visit include Baltic, the arts venue, previously a flour mill and now a state of the art venue for contemporary art exhibitions. A glass elevator takes you to the top floor, with fantastic views of the Tyne Bridge and the Quayside, where an excellent restaurant serves excellent food.
The Sage is a brilliant, purpose built music venue. It's an amazing feat of architecture - it looks like a silver alien life form sitting on the south bank of the Tyne! It's strange, but really works as part of the cityscape. Music for all tastes is offered in a multi-facetted programme of events spanning jazz and folk to new age and classical music - vocal and orchestral. Buy tickets in advance and experience an evening of music in an intimate venue, followed by dinner in one of the many, excellent restaurants on the Quayside.
The Millennium Eye bridge is a footbridge, built to mark the Millennium, spanning the Tyne from the Baltic area of the south bank to the Quayside on the north bank. Its "Blinking Eye" design sees it appear as an eyelid blinking when it is raised to allow high masted vessels to pass through. Lit up at night with colour-changing lights underfoot and colourchanging floodlights, it's very attractive and well worth a visit after dark.
Gateshead and the MetroCentre
The MetroCentre, reputed to be Europe's largest indoor shopping centre, is across the Tyne at Gateshead, just off the A1 south of the Tyne. Parking is easy and free and this enormous shopping mall is easy to navigate, with major department stores such as Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and House of Fraser, alongside all the major high street chains such as Laura Ashley, Jane Norman, Next, etc. as well as quite a few small independent "specialist" shops. There's also a multi screen cinema, bowling alley.
The MetroCentre is bordered by the Metro Retail Park, which includes furniture and homeware outlets such as Ikea, Barker and Stonehouse, ILVA and Asda. Just a couple of miles further south is the Team Valley Trading Estate, which claims to be the largest trading estate in Europe. Amongst scores of factories, a Retail Park is located at the South end, just off the A1, with many major stores including TKMaxx, Borders, Boots, Homebase, MFI, Curry's and many others.
Gateshead is also home to the world famous 'Angel of the North' sculpture. Situated just off the A1, a mile North of the motorway services at Washington, you can park up and walk the 100 or so yds to the monument and either sit on its massive feet or gaze up at it's majestic height and wonder why it doesn't blow down in a strong wind!
